Effect of Plea Modifications

Expunge Qualifying Plea Modifications

Modifying The Charge at Plea

Statewide Representation

This page provides links to Florida Case Law regarding sealing and expungements and the basis for plea agreements, withdrawing a plea, or modifying sentence to obtain relief. The cases are list below from the most recent to the earliest. A brief description follows. Citations were removed. Please refer to actual case for complete understanding.

There are times when a defendant realizes, after the fact, that the act they have done (plea, enter diversion, etc.) was a mistake and that they would like to reverse their actions for a better result. When it comes to the sealing and expunging statutes there has been some litigation on it.

Blackmon v. State, 7 So.3d 650 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009): Ms. Blackman wrote to the trial judge, requesting that the judgment in her case be vacated. The trial court treated the letter as a motion for postconviction relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, and denied it as untimely. As Ms. Blackman claims actual innocence, her only avenue of relief from the conviction would be by application to the Pardon Board. She wishes to have her criminal record sealed. In order to pursue that relief, Ms. Blackman must submit a petition to seal or expunge on the appropriate forms contained in Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.989, and follow the requirements of Rule 3.692. The requirements include obtaining a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is impossible to determine from Ms. Blackman’s letter whether she is, or is not, eligible for sealing or expunction. No useful purpose would be served by a remand for the trial court to consider this issue, because the claim has not been properly pled.

State v. Dempsey, 916 So.2d 856 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005): Dempsey and the State entered into a PTI agreement under which Dempsey agreed to pay restitution to the victim and participate in the PTI program for twelve months. In exchange, the State agreed that upon full payment of restitution and her successful completion of twelve months in the PTI program, it would dismiss the charges. The written agreement also stated that the case and charges against her would not be subject to expunction pursuant to section 943.0585, Florida Statutes (1992), but could be sealed pursuant to section 943.059. The trial court thereafter ratified the agreement. Dempsey moved to set aside the PTI agreement, vacate the dismissal, and reinstate the charges against her. Her motion alleged that following the dismissal of the charges against her, she had pursued and completed a course of education to become certified as a school teacher, but she had been rejected for employment by several school districts. In particular, the Pinellas County School Board considered her participation in the PTI program an admission of guilt, thereby making her ineligible for employment within that district. She claimed she misunderstood her contract with the State, there was no meeting of the minds, and the dismissal of her charges was ambiguous and should be deemed void because third parties, particularly the Pinellas County School Board, do not recognize the dismissal. Absent a legal basis to do so, the trial court erred when it set aside the contract that Dempsey and the State entered into in 1998 and reinstated the criminal proceedings against her. In essence, Ms. Dempsey has tried to set aside an agreement that was extremely advantageous to her in 1998 but less so now in her present circumstances, based on the actions of a non-party to that agreement.

Baldwin v. State, 10 F.L.W. Supp 758a (9th Jud. Cir., July 14 2003): Defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere to the charge of battery (domestic violence). On February 22, 2002, Defendant filed a Motion to Withdraw Plea of No Contest, and a hearing was held. The public defender stated to the court that Defendant entered his plea specifically relying on her representation to him that he would be able to have this record expunged. After Defendant entered his plea, the public defender researched expungement and discovered that charges related to domestic violence cannot be expunged. She then contacted Defendant and informed him that she had given him incorrect information. The trial court concluded that there was an insufficient legal basis to withdraw the plea, and denied the motion. The facts at the hearing were undisputed. Defendant entered into this plea in reliance on counsel’s statement that he would have the opportunity to have this offense expunged from his record. Counsel was wrong. Thus, Defendant’s plea was rendered involuntary by counsel’s misadvice, and Defendant should have been allowed to withdraw his plea.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

The best place to try and correct an act, such as a misunderstood plea, is before it happens. The judicial system has plenty of built in methods to correct errors, especially in the criminal justice system. However, there is a legitimate need for finality and the courts recognize this.

Plea agreements should be thoroughly explained before you enter into it. Always have your attorney explain all aspects of the plea agreements and how this will affect your ability to seal or expunge your record.

The effect of plea agreements is why you need to make sure you are making the right decision in court every single time. It goes without saying that the only way to do this is by hiring competent legal representation to handle all your legal matters.

Questions?

Do you have questions, would you like to suggest additional case law, or are you seeking to have your record sealed or expunged? Please feel free to contact me. I try to respond within 24 hours.